22 Surrogacy Terms To Know – Guide For Surrogates & Parents

Feskov Human Reproduction Group implements guaranteed surrogacy programs, both with a personal egg and with a donor egg. We stand for an individual approach to each case. Therefore, together we will overcome any problems and give you the happiness of parenthood!

1. Surrogate carrier / mother / Surrogate

These terms can be used synonymously. This is a woman who carries and gives birth to a baby for intended parents who are not able to do it on their own. Surrogates are categorized into traditional and gestational surrogates.

2. Traditional motherhood

A surrogate mother donates her eggs for in vitro conception, so she is genetically linked to the baby. Until 10 years ago, this was common. However, now it is not in use due to moral and ethical issues.

3. Gestational motherhood

The gestational carrier becomes pregnant as a result of IVF and has no genetic link to the fetus in the abdomen. Since, for the cultivation of embryos, genetic material (eggs, sperm) of the intended parents or donor is taken. Nowadays, it is used everywhere.

4. Egg donor

Another woman donates her eggs, which will later be used for assisted reproduction through IVF.

5. Puncture

The procedure for retrieving eggs from the donor's ovaries.

6. Intended parent (s)

People who have rights to children born through substitutionary motherhood according to the law.

7. Consistency

Approval procedures take place at the initial stage of the entire event. Intended parents look at surrogate mother and donor profiles. When parents choose a surrogate mother with whom they wish to cooperate, the surrogate mother can also communicate with them to make a decision. This is facilitated by a specialized agency or clinic.

8. Psychological testing

Both the mother and the donor need to undergo certain psychological tests to exclude mental disorders and make sure they are ready for this long journey.

9. Surrogacy contract

A legal contract that is concluded between all parties to the action. The terms of the contract are agreed upon by all participants before signing with lawyers. This document explains the rights and obligations of the parties and is a guarantee of the fulfillment of the points specified in the contract.

10. Center for reproduction / Reproductive Clinic

Clinic for reproductive medicine, which provides medical treatment during the entire process.

11. Obstetrician-gynecologist

An obstetrician is a doctor who specializes in giving birth. A gynecologist is a doctor who treats diseases related to female reproduction.

12. Reproductive endocrinologist

He practices the treatment of diseases of the female reproductive system by pharmaceutical and surgical methods. In principle, it is an obstetrician or gynecologist, whose specialization is disorders / dysfunctions associated with the  female reproductive organs.

13. Schedule of the surrogate cycle

In fact, the term means a surrogate motherhood schedule drawn up by a doctor or IVF coordinator. The schedule contains significant appointments with the doctor before embryo transplantation.

14. IVF / In vitro fertilization / artificial fertilization

IVF is a manipulation in which conception occurs by laboratory combining of oocytes and sperm. As a result, the embryo is cultivated in the laboratory, under the monitoring of endocrinologists-reproductologists.

15. Transfer of cryopreserved embryos.

Manipulation, when the frozen embryo is defrosted and transplanted into the uterus of a surrogate or real mother.

 16. Beta testing

A type of blood test that helps you know if you are pregnant or not. This is usually done 10 days after the embryo transfer. This test measures the levels of the hormones progesterone, estradiol, LH, and hCG.

17. Amniocentesis

An amniocentesis test is required to detect any genetic abnormalities, neural tube defects, or chromosomal abnormalities by examining the amniotic fluid, and is generally performed between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

18. Hysterosalpingogram

A radiological procedure used to determine the condition of the fallopian tube and uterus.

19. Chorionic villus sampling

This test is similar to amniocentesis. It is an exploratory test that can identify abnormalities and other inherited disorders. It is most often done between 10 and 12 weeks. pregnancy to examine the cells of the placenta by inserting a catheter into the uterus from the vagina or by inserting a needle through the abdomen into the uterus.

20. Blastocyst

This term refers to an embryo that has developed successfully within 5-7 days after conception. The blastocyst has 2 different types of cell mass and a central cavity filled with a liquid medium (blastocoel cavity). The embryo must reach the blastocyst prior to implantation into the uterus.

21. Mitochondrial transfer / cytoplasm donation

The impact consists in the introduction of the donor's oocyte cytoplasm (a storehouse of cellular energy) into the egg of the intended mother. This helps to remove energy and metabolic pathologies of the woman's personal oocytes, gives an impetus to the natural growth of the embryo. That is, the resulting embryo will have mitochondrial DNA from the donor, and nuclear (with the genotype) from the intended parents. Babies born from such an action are often called "children from three parents." Feskov Human Reproduction Group is successfully practicing it.

22. Surrogacy agency

A consulting institution that acts as an intermediary between all participants in the surrogacy process. It selects a surrogate mother, a medical institution, consults, monitors the entire program.

The specialists of Feskov Human Reproduction Group will do everything possible, and sometimes even impossible, so that everyone who comes to the clinic will feel when dreams come true!

Authors, contributors:

Irina Smolina
International Outreach Manager

published: 19 October 2020
updated   : 03 March 2023

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